The Sun Also Rises

That distinct whine with which he was afforded as he so attempted to shoo Sebastian away from him brought a soft laugh to his lips, his own eyes rolling softly at his lovers dramatics and yet he was assured it would be entirely worth it tonight to discover just what undergarments each had chosen. He was remiss to have his lovers arms unwind from around him and yet in an effort to keep that secrecy he was assured it was necessary, Dorian watching the vampire to make sure he did not turn back around before asking after that tie. Two years! That was far longer than he had anticipated it might take to learn such a thing, his eyes widening slightly in surprise and yet he offered no further comment on it for now, the Fae merely left considering such a thing as he finished dressing before turning to afford his lover that same privacy. It was only after he had seen to his own cologne and those preparations for the meeting that he made his way into that reception room- Sebastian but a few moments behind. He had come to suspect, from his own time in England, that the his lover might well be unused to the nature of Italian reception rooms and the sole purpose for which they were designed- to wait and yet look as if one was not waiting. The slight raise of his lover's eyes assured him readily that such was a new experience for the man, Dorian coming to join him before that artwork with his own arms folded behind his back to pretend that the picture before them was of great intrigue. Sebastian momentary inquiry met with the smallest of momentary considerations.

"I do, yes, but I have not for some time. I have not had all that many guests these past centuries on whom to pretend I was not waiting."

That look of what Dorian can only presume was his lovers pretend look of interest so managed to stir another soft chuckle from within himself, the Fae King so taking that opportunity to tease at him once more before the abrupt appearance of the page boy announced Matteo's timely arrival. He could hardly help that grin that found its way to his features. After all, of all those beings in his life whom had changed or faded or died over the years, Matteo was perhaps that single, unchanging factor, a being he had known for the entirety of his life and one whom represented so very much of the world Dorian had once known. There was something pleasing and comforting all at once to so be in the companionship of his oldest of friends and yet too, he so desired that Matteo might like Sebastian in turn. Dorian finding himself momentarily afflicted with but the faintest flutter of nervousness as the elder Fae offered those introductions- holding his hand out to the vampire in turn. It was entirely fleeting and yet for but the briefest of moments Dorian found himself entirely aware of that all-too curious look upon his lovers features. Sebastian appearing almost perplexed in a fashion that present company so prevented the Monarch from inquiring on, Dorian truly holding little idea as to what might render such a look upon his lovers face before he moved to suggest they return to that parlour and the refreshments he knew to be waiting.

He was oblivious entirely too but that brief exchange of words that occurred when his back was turned. Dorian easily finding his favoured chair beside Sebastian's own and opposite Matteo, the elder Fae reclining with a laconic ease Dorian had always found himself almost envious off. Matteo so eternally appearing as if he was entirely comfortable in every situation and yet, he supposed, a thousand years of life with the majority spent in palaces or royal company might render one exactly that comfortable. He sipped briefly at his own tea, relishing that taste, until Matteo so praised Sebastian upon his efforts in keeping the Monarch alive all this time, an indignant looking crossing his features though he afforded it no true comment as the elder man so asked after just what he had been doing all this time and the places he had been before inquiring as to the rest of the world. His silver gaze so turned to his lover in that moment, meeting the blue of the vampires own as he spoke of Barcelona. How glorious such a place sounded! Yet even he could not deny how such a trip might prove displeasing to Samantha. The Fae woman having made no secret of her dislike for Sebastian, that single dinner they had shared having proven so disastrous Dorian was loath to even remember it, his features scowling slightly even now.

"She will come around- in time, I am sure."

It was perhaps the best that could be hoped for, Dorian willing to dismiss the thoughts of his roommate for now in favour of sharing with Matteo all those things he had seen and done these past months. Ah, but what delight he took in sharing those things he had learned! That ready simper adorned his lips once more as he regarded the other man now. Dorian spoke of those modern conveniences he had learned off and too those people he had met before reaching into his pockets to display both that letter sender and too- that ipod he often kept with him, passing them to Matteo to examine as the elder Fae simply nodded. He spoke readily too of those fish and chips and beef wellingtons, off aquariums and Halloween and Sebastian's home before moving to show Matteo several of those photos he had taken with the letter sender of both Sacrosanct and that trip to London and Belton and the ice rink he had fallen upon. There was a ready animation to his voice as he spoke, the Monarch's clear delight in all he had done so far entirely apparent, a smile settling readily upon Matteo's features in turn. My, but you two have been busy. It is good though. You should not stay here, you have a world to see Dorian, I would hate to see you in this palace any longer. Five centuries was enough. As for this Samantha- she will not be a problem any longer. It was but that casual mention of Samantha that saw Dorian frown once more, his brow knitting together in a momentary concern as to just what his companion was so implying, his gaze cast briefly to Sebastian before returning to Matteo.

"Forgive me, Matteo, but what on earth do you mean she won't be a problem any longer? Has something happened to her? You didn't do anything to her did you?! "

There was, perhaps, the first notes of panic within his voice now- worry for the woman he had left behind afflicting him for the first time this entire journey. For all the years had had known the man whom sat opposite him he had known too- that his powers were both exceptional and yet wholly devastating when he chose to employ them. Just how far the Frenchman might go to assure those whom he saw as problems were removed Dorian hardly knew and yet surely the man would not have seen any harm befall Samantha. Matteo's own features shifted into a scowl of sorts, a huff passing his lips as he continued to sip his coffee as if his hand in the supposed demise of a young woman had not at all been suggested, his own shoulders shrugging in the frustrating manner he was prone too when he was so determined to be vague. She is perfectly well Dorian for goodness sake, it is simply so that she will provide no obstacle for what you and Sebastian wish to do in the future. A sigh of relief found its way from Dorians lips then in this knowledge that Samantha, in the least, was not dead. His attention returned to his lover then, his words wholly soft as he sought to offer Sebastian some explanation to this.

"Matteo possesses the, how you say? Future Sight? He can see what will happen before it has and yet he so often chooses not to inform others of it. It is how he knew where I was all this time and how he knew of you."

His words were perhaps slightly pointed in that moment, Dorian finding himself frustrated with the elder Fae and his often less than straightforward answers as Matteo merely chuckled softly once more, speaking to the vampire now. His Majesty is not incorrect yet my visions are not always clear to myself either. Some take working out. You, for example Sebastian, were very hard to see. Though really, I must ask you, what do you do? I continue to see...deer around you, of all things, you are not a farmer are you? It was Dorian's turn then, to so attempt to supress that chuckle, the Monarch near choking upon his tea at the very idea of his lover so standing within a muddy field and yet he remained silent all the same to allow the vampire to answer for himself. Yet still, certain queries remained within his own mind, Dorian waiting for Matteo to fall silent once more before inquiring of but one of those wonderings that had teased at his thoughts these past few days.

"If you had seen where I was all this time, why did you not tell the government?"

Such a thought had lingered since Benito had first mentioned it within the great hall the day of their arrival. The Prime Minister too, had mentioned the sheer amount of being deployed in that search for him while Matteo had remained silent upon such a thing all along. He had always been a fickle being and yet this seemed more than that. Do you wish to hear the truth of it? Matteo paused then to place his coffee back upon the table, the man reaching up at last to remove his sunglasses, those bright silver eyes flecked with blue meeting Dorian's own for the first time before resting upon Sebastian- the smallest of simpers nestled upon his lips. In five hundred years I had not seen you be even but an ounce as happy as you have been with Sebastian these past months. I knew you were safe and as such I saw no reason for you to be interrupted with the nonsense of....politics. Perhaps I am too tender-hearted in my old age but I was thrilled you were seeing the world and that you had found someone inclined to show it to you. Speaking of which, I brought a gift for you. Both of you.

Dorian Aragona